Pubdate: Fri, 29 Apr 2005
Source: Times Herald-Record (NY)
Copyright: 2005 Times Herald-Record
Contact: http://www.recordonline.com/services/contact.htm
Website: http://www.recordonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2544
Author: Jeremiah Horrigan
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

STUDENTS TO RALLY AGAINST DRUG POLICY

The first campus rally of the spring is set for today, with students 
threatening an eventual sleep-in at the college president's office to 
protest his policy toward illegal drug violations.

Student leaders want SUNY New Paltz President Steve Poskanzer to enact a 
moratorium on the mandatory expulsion of students who have been accused of 
two marijuana offenses.

Justin Holmes, the president of the student government, said the rally is 
the culmination of longstanding opposition to the mandatory expulsions.

"No other SUNY state college is so draconian in its policies," he said. 
Students caught using marijuana or with drug equipment are automatically 
expelled after two such incidents without legal or in-house review, he 
said. Expulsion is quicker for incidents involving other controlled 
substances, one time and you're out.

The conflict doesn't appear to be headed for quick resolution.

College spokesman Eric Gullickson said yesterday the college was satisfied 
that its policies were fair and that they contributed to a healthy campus 
environment.

"What we want is a drug-free environment, not a free-drug environment," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth